THIS refers to the letter ‘Some suggestions’ by Dr Amer Jamil wherein the writer has presented a revolutionary idea that the qualification criteria for appearing in CSS examinations must be changed.

It is as much ironic as it is pathetic that anyone with a bachelor’s degree can join the Civil Services of Pakistan by taking CSS examinations while those who are highly qualified and are holding higher professional degrees are denied the opportunity under the pretext of age limit.

The requirement of only a bachelor’s degree for the CSS examinations is, in fact, stopping students from acquiring further education in our country where the literacy rate is already low.

The Federal Public Service Commission has admitted in its annual report that it has failed in attracting the cream, the top students from the universities most of whom opt for going abroad in search of better options.

A few years ago the FPSC’s research director, after a thorough academic research, had announced the intention of the commission to enhance the qualification criterion for CSS examinations from bachelors to at least 16 years of education with five years as general age relaxation.

He announced the good news while addressing a gathering in Faisalabad University. I don’t know who silenced him afterwards. It is time we modernised the civil service.

The federal ombudsman should inquire into the matter and increase the qualification criteria so that better and more competent candidates may join the bureaucratic setup of their country.